Excel Beginners

Data Types and Formatting: Step 2 To Mastering Spreadsheets

Understanding inputs and outputs

About this Guide

This guide is meant to help users get a grasp over what data types are, the different types of data types which Excel uses, the types of manipulations each one accepts, and how to format them.

While there exist exceptions to the rules of which types of functions can be utilized with different data types, there are few which need to be covered in order to grasp the concepts of data integrity which will be covered. Those which are relevant will be highlighted and described.

What this guide will do is highlight different best practices when handling information of various types, as well as tricks that can be used to identify potential issues that cause data type errors, in order to give users the ability to apply these skills to their daily work within Excel.

Once you have discovered a form of validation which resonates with issues you are presently experiencing, or see as likely to occur in your work, it is important to note them down and apply them to test scenarios. I would recommend slowly applying them into processes which already exist. Moving from a test scenario to your existing process as you begin to feel comfortable using the different forms of validation. It is also easier to modifying an existing workflow than it is to create a new workflow to accommodate a specific form of validation, this can give you a good comparison for how Excel reacts when in a situation you are already comfortable with.

While this guide is labelled as a tool for beginners, there is a strong chance even an experienced Excel user will find value in reading this! It is rare that we take the time to explore every option available to us, either due to lack of time or exposure, and this could help provide a new outlook.

Goodluck, and happy learning!

- Matthew Di Minno